FOR GRAND CRU ATTENDEES
Everything you need to know about
Friends, we are so glad you’re joining us for this year’s Cork & Barrel Grand Cru, presented by Avion Water Company and benefiting KIDS Center! Your attendance and generosity will help children and families find hope and healing. Please plan to attend, and read on for all the event details!
Event Info
Cork & Barrel Grand Cru
4:30–9 pm
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Athletic Field of Central Oregon Community College
2600 NW College Way
Bend, OR 97703
Tickets
We do not issue paper tickets to Grand Cru. Your name and any guest names you registered at ticket purchase/sponsor confirmation will simply be on the guest list when you and your guests arrive. If you purchased tickets for guests and did not give us their names, they will be on the guest list under “Your Name Guest”—so if your name is Mary Smith, there will be multiple tickets under Mary Smith Guest.
You can make the check-in process go more smoothly for your guests by sending us their names prior to the event.
Please email your guest information to dross@kidscenter.org.
Attire
The suggested attire is “Country Club Festive.” Think Tommy Bahama, collared shirts, blouses, slacks, capris or nice shorts, sun dresses, dresses. Our event is outdoors, held under a big tent, so you will be shaded. We’ll be on the grass, so we encourage you to wear flat-soled shoes or platform shoes (spiky heels will get stuck in the sod).
What to Expect
Winemaker’s Reception: 4:30-6 pm
The evening will start with the Winemaker’s Reception, with tastings from 21 Willamette Valley and Columbia Gorge wineries, 3 local breweries, 2 cideries and 2 distilleries. Zydeco will be serving a variety of hors d’oeuvres. You can walk from station to station or find an area to sit and enjoy your food and wine, and listen to live jazz by The Groove Merchants. You’ll also find an enticing Silent Auction and Super Silent Auction plus fun opportunities to win wine. Don’t miss your chance to enter the Golden Paddle Raffle for a chance to win a $5000 credit in our Live Auction! All activities support KIDS Center.
Dinner, Live Auction and Paddle Raise: 6-9 pm
The dinner tent will open at 6 pm for a multi-course sit-down dinner by Executive Chef Franco Console of Neuman Hotel Group. Over the course of the evening, you’ll have the chance to bid on 13 packages in our Live Auction, and join the Paddle Raise to support hope and healing for children impacted by abuse. Get ready to wine, dine and make a difference!
Parking and Complimentary Safe Rides with LYFT
You’ll find plentiful guest parking at Central Oregon Community College. Signage will direct you. Golf cart shuttles will circle the parking lots, if you would like a ride to the Check-In tent.
We have a guest drop-off area close to the Check-In tent if you would like to drop off passengers (especially guests with limited mobility). Signage will direct you.
Safe Rides are available through LYFT, with a $20 credit per ride for up to 4 rides (2 per event).
Set up Lyft now so it’s easy to use at the event! Simply download and open the LYFT app. Tap the menu icon and then tap “Payment.” Add a credit card in “Payment Methods”—just in case the length of your ride exceeds your $20 ride credit...and also so you can tip your driver. (Gratuity is not included in the ride credit.) Safe Rides are offered to and from Sip on Friday night and Grand Cru on Saturday night (4 rides total).
Load your Lyft Pass anytime!
Log into Lyft and use the code CORKBARREL25 and your Lyft Pass will be ready for you to use at Cork & Barrel!
In the Lyft app, you can find your Lyft Pass under “Payment.”
You can use this code once per phone.
If you drive to the event and opt to take a Lyft home, please plan to pick up your vehicle by noon on Sunday, July 20.
Event Catalog
The Cork & Barrel event catalog will be available at the event, with information about the wineries, chef and Live Auction packages.
Auctions
Silent Auction
We also have an exclusive Silent Auction for Grand Cru guests only! You can preview these items online; bidding is in-person during the event on Saturday, July 20! Preview all items by clicking on the unique link texted to you. If you did not receive a text, we may not have your cell phone #. Please email gtstevens@kidscenter.org with your name and cell # and we can send you the link.
Live Auction
The Live Auction will be sold LIVE during Grand Cru on Saturday, July 20. We have 13 Live Auction lots including the popular Wall of Wine, a trip to Croatia, and some wonderful wine getaways! Peek at all 13 fabulous lots by clicking on the unique link texted to you, and then bid live on Saturday, July 19! If you did not receive a text, we may not have your cell phone #. Please email gtstevens@kidscenter.org with your name and cell # and we can send you the link.
More Fun!
The Mystery Wine Pull
Everyone wins at the Mystery Wine Pull! It’s only $25 to play, and you win the bottle you pull. Bottles are valued up to $100! We have stocked this year’s inventory with some special gems you won’t want to miss!
Party Boards
Get your tickets for our Fall Parties! Look for our big Party Boards at the event, and purchase a “seat” to our fall parties: our Haunted Masquerade Ball on Saturday, October 11, 2025, and Poker Night at Hawkeye and Huckleberry Lounge on Thursday, November 12, 2025. You can also grab a seat to our fall Winemaker Dinner at Brasada Ranch with Domaine Serene on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
You can also purchase tickets now using the unique link texted to you.
The Golden Paddle Raffle
sponsored by First Interstate Bank
Want to win $5000 of credit for the Live Auction? Purchase a Golden Paddle Raffle Ticket! Tickets are $100 each, and we’re only selling 300 tickets. There will be one winner who gets the magical paddle, and we will draw the winner just before Live Auction items are sold at Grand Cru. You can purchase raffle tickets at Grand Cru on July 19.
How You Can Maximize Your Impact
Did you know that KIDS Center typically pays $15,000 in credit card processing fees for Cork & Barrel? Crazy, right!?! You can maximize your gift and help more kids and families by opting to pay 3% of your credit card processing fees. It’s simple! At event check-in, opt into paying your credit card fees. This 3% fee will be reflected on the final receipt we send to you following the event. This small amount can add up and make a big difference for kids and families!
Psst: You can also opt to avoid fees all-together, by paying for your purchases with a check, stock, or through a foundation. Just let us know at check-in if you plan to pay by a method other than a credit card. Thank you!
Food & Beverages
Food Allergies, Vegetarian Meals, Beer Pairings, Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Please take a look at our Grand Cru dinner menu below. Please alert us if you:
have any food allergies
need a vegetarian meal
prefer to have beer rather than wine with dinner
Please communicate your food and beverage requests no later than 5 pm, Friday, July 11. Email Dru Ross at email dross@kidscenter.org or call 541-306-4497.
If you prefer a non-alcoholic drink with dinner, simply let your server know.
FIRST COURSE
Summer melon gazpacho, citrus compressed apple relish
In the glass: Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Brut M.V. 2
Sunriver Brewing Co. Fuzztail
SECOND COURSE
Organic field greens, char roasted grapes, curry roasted pistachios, chevre, honey braised shallot & kefir lime vinaigrette, celeriac crisps
In the glass: 2021 Stoller Family Estate Reserve Chardonnay
Sunriver Brewing Co. Fuzztail
THIRD COURSE
Slow smoked black angus beef
huckleberry molasses barbecue, sharp white cheddar grits, charred jalapeno & peach coleslaw
In the glass: Penner-Ash 2022 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Sunriver Brewing Co. Rippin NW Pale Ale
FOURTH COURSE
Oregon marionberry marzipan torte, raspberry thyme coulis, honey almond crumble
In the glass: 2022 Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir
Thank you for attending Cork & Barrel and supporting KIDS Center!
YOU are helping kids and families heal. We look forward to sharing a very special evening with you!
Kindest regards, Ginger Theis Stevens
and the Cork & Barrel Team
office: 541-306-4669